American-bred double-flowering cercis arrives in the UK

Cercis canadensis ‘Pink Pom Poms’ was bred in the USA by Dr Dennis Werner of North Carolina State University and will be introduced to the UK exclusively by www.treetyme.co.uk next February or March.

A spokesman for Treetyme, which hosts the Plant Heritage National Collection of cercis at its arboretum in Cumbria, said the new hybrid is the first double-flowered cercis to come from the American plant breeding programme.

‘Pink Pom Pom’ bears large double-pink flowers in spring, followed by glossy green foliage. It makes a small tree that will grow to 10-16ft (3-5m) high, or a multi-stemmed bush that reaches 6.5-10ft (2-3m).

The cercis will thrive in soils with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.5. Bare-root plants will cost £45 plus p&p next spring.